Saracens chief executive Ed Griffiths has revealed that they are keen to tee up an annual game against rugby league side the Wigan Warriors.

Sarries have a partnership in place with the Stobart Super League side and with the club already pushing various boundaries - with a planned match in Brussels just one of their initiatives this season - Griffiths is keen on a cross code match. "The ambition is to play a hybrid game of 'rugby' between us every year," Griffiths told the Times. "The challenge is finding that window. The preference is for a January or August slot.

"We are mindful of sevens becoming a growing force in the game. Sevens is an area where rugby union and rugby league can play side by side quite easily. On a number of levels, they are a high-achieving organisation in rugby league. We want to be [that] in rugby union. There should be a fair amount of synergy."

Their partnership has seen coaches swapping between the two sides, Griffiths has revealed, and although they have former Wigan player Joel Tomkins on their books, the Sarries CEO is keen to emphasise that their deal with the Warriors will not see an influx of players crossing the league/union divide.

"It does not mean that no Wigan player will ever go anywhere else, or that no Saracens player will ever go anywhere else," Griffiths said. "There is a coming together and a mutual awareness, which could lead to players going one way or another.

"It boils down to relationships between people. Ours is very strong. They have ambition to be innovators within rugby league. Wigan want to be a club that looks to do new things. They see in us a bit of a kindred spirit."